I am Not Job!

English: Job restored to prosperity (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1 In the land of Uz  there lived a man whose name was Job.   This man was blameless  and upright;  he feared God   and shunned evil. Job 1:1 (NIV)

There are most certainly times in life when we compare ourselves to Job.  I know that I have uttered the words, “having a Job moment” attempting to place myself in his category.

The reality is that Job’s lived a blameless and upright life and yet God permitted him to be tested beyond typical human endurance.  I, am not blameless, have not led and upright life, yet thankfully the Blood of Jesus covers me. The loss of children, fortune and health would bring most of us to our knees or send us to bed or floor curled into fetal positions praying for a swift end or even death.

Job had every reason to be upset, yet through it all he  asked to be shown where he had done wrong Job 6:24 ²⁴ “Teach me, and I will be quiet;  show me where I have been wrong.”  As we go through difficulties, hit speed bumps that slow our earthly progress and illnesses that sap our will and strength, let us remember the example of Job.  Through it all God is to be praised, God is to be honored and we are to seek to learn where we have fallen short.  Seeking God’s direction, making clear and sincere our confessions, petitions and requests.   Holding fast to God knowledge that He is right there with us, through it all!

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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Crowd Reaction

Jesus and Saint Peter, Gospel of Matthew 4.18-20 Français : Jésus et Saint Pierre, Évangile selon Matthieu 4.18-20 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Matthew 9:36 (NIV)

³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them,  because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 13:2  (NIV) 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.

When the word spread through the villages and towns that Jesus was coming, they flocked en mass to where ever he was to hear what he had to say.  The words spoken and lessons taught caused people to literally drop what they were doing to hear this man from Galilee speak .  As I watched American Idol last night there were remarks about the audience of 7,000 people packed into the Nokia stadium.  A stadium with comfortable seats, air conditioning and restrooms.   This to hear two gifted young people sing for a title.

Christ packed a shoreline with folks so tight, he had to sit on the water in a boat to teach.  There were no restrooms, no comfortable seats or concession stands.  Physical comfort was not a concern, the desire to hear what the Master was teaching was the objective and sole purpose for being in that place, at that time.  I have witnessed crowds losing their minds over this celebrity or that celebrity whose ultimate goal is merely to entertain and not necessarily uplift.

Give me Jesus!  I would take the discomfort, heat and crowd just to have been able to hear Him speak the words that have on so many occasions provided salve for my soul.  He still speaks today and I yearn to hear and obey each and every word.

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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In the Creator’s Hands

Ephesians 3:15 (NLT)

¹⁵ the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.^[a]

Perception. This rose is perfect, despite my shaky camera phone hand. Each delicate petal perfectly formed, open at just the right angle, colored in a hue that speaks volumes of love. It appears large enough to fill a lapel or round out a corsage.

Reality, this is a miniature rose on a petite bush on my coffee table. Yet a close up reveals and unfolds God’s masterful handiwork.

There are times when we feel our contributions do not really matter as much. The little that we contribute, seemingly a mere pittance, yet in God’s hands our little far exceeds our expectations in order to fulfill the purpose God has for us!  The Creator of the entire world and all that is in it created us, we were made to do amazing, incredible things all we have to do is believe!  All contributions to mankind count, no matter the size!

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

Posted from WordPress for Windows Phone

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Happy Mother’s Day!

For 26 years, give or take a month or so, I have been a mother. Yet, for most of these years, it always felt more like the day was for others and not me. God blessed me with a beautiful daughter who is and has always been the joy of my life.

When I married my dear husband two years ago i was blessed with three more lights. This year, there will be a wedding that will again increase the blessings.

I learned that being a mother is all about love. Love in its most vivid and varied colors and complexities. Love that exposes and opens my heart to willingly love so many others.

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

Posted from WordPress for Windows Phone

Checkin the Tude

Stained glass window of the sacred Heart of Jesus Christ in the former Mosque (Cathedral) of Cordoba, Spain (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.”        1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 MSG

It seems that several times this week I seriously failed in this challenge.   Even yesterday, I felt the downward tug of my lips and the mantle of cheerfulness sliding slowly like a silk shawl from my right shoulder to the floor.  At that time I acknowledge that I did not have the energy or desire to grab for and pull it back straight.

Oh for the days when being disgustingly cheerful was so easy and effortless.  To again be able to alternate between annoying and brightening the lives of other people.  In these less than star reaching moments I miss being one of those people who was always cheerful.  It is in those times that I find it necessary to constantly call on Jesus.  He, who conquered death has more than enough strength to remove the dark clouds hovering over head, to inject the joy back into my spirit.

When the day seems darkest, I reflect on the goodness of the Lord and the clouds part and the Son is able to shine through.  Praising God again for His faithfulness to me through all storms and difficulties!

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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Open Doors

Français : l’entrée (datée 1820) de l’église Sainte-Catherine de Limeuil, Dordogne. English: The entrance (1820) of the Church Saint-Catherine in Limeuil, Dordogne, France. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Pray for Open Doors  = Colossians 4:2-4 (MSG) 

^2-4Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude. Don’t forget to pray for us, that God will open doors for telling the mystery of Christ, even while I’m locked up in this jail. Pray that every time I open my mouth I’ll be able to make Christ plain as day to them.

 

Open minds and open doors permit entré or exit of knowledge, love, blessings, experiences, change, good or bad circumstances.  I pray for God to open doors that allow me to continue to be of greater service to Him.  To have my mind, heart, eyes and arms open to embrace all He desires for me to do.

It is easy at times to wish those same doors slam firmly closed so that I can stew over what may or may not be going the way I want.  When letting go of my desires moves me out of the way of what it is that God needs.  My prayer today is not only for those doors to open but that God remove any barrier that stands in His way.

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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Worship Wednesday

The clouds were amazing this afternoon during the storm. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Psalm 34:9 (MSG)

⁹ Worship God if you want the best;   worship opens doors to all His goodness.

Today it is all about praising God in all His awesomeness.  No matter what we may be going through, worshiping God is the fastest way I know to change my mood!  Thinking about how awesome He is and how much He loves me, I cannot help but have my mood elevated!!

http://youtu.be/d3kqAqKqcRQ - Charles Jenkins – My God is Awesome

http://youtu.be/aWyep7tvLuU - Fred Hammond – He’s An Awesome God

http://youtu.be/RLwGWv3lTYk - Casting Crowns – Praise You in the Storm

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

 

 

 

 

 

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Making Bread

John 6:51 (CEV)

⁵¹ I am that bread from heaven! Everyone who eats it will live forever. My flesh is the life-giving bread that I give to the people of this world.

In an effort to take control of what goes into our mouths, my husband and I are going back to eating simpler fare that we remember from our childhoods.

We are adopting healthier menus including more whole grains, less salt and I am even stepping up and making bread, without a bread machine.

There is a lot of patience in making bread. The oats and honey had to soak for an hour. The yeast 10 minutes, mixing another 10 and kneading another 20 minutes.  Kneading is a fairly decent exercise!  My arms knotted, burned and shook with the effort, and I fear may have shorted the process by a minute or two, or four.

The full process took about four hours, yet the pride and sense of accomplishment will last until it is time to make more next week!

This bread that will feed our bellies and reminded that the feeding of my soul is no less a process requiring proper ingredients, effort, patience and time. Christ is the Living Bread and it is my desire to daily partake of His offering of eternal life.

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

Posted from WordPress for Windows Phone

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I Just Want to say “Thank You”!

Over half-way… (Photo credit: Brett Jordan)

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

¹⁴ if my people, who are called by my name,  will humble  themselves and pray and seek my face  and turn  from their wicked ways, then I will hear  from heaven, and I will forgive  their sin and will heal  their land.

There has been so much going on in my life in the last couple weeks!  All I have been able to muster the energy to do is repeatedly and constantly call on the Lord.  As this day got underway today this song, that I have loved for a long time touched and moved me in ways it hadn’t before.

http://youtu.be/rq-5UjgtiYA – (Fred Hammond) Thank You Lord for being There for Me.

When I couldn’t find a voice to ask for help, He heard.

When my eyes shined with unshed tears, He heard.

When it seemed that hope was fading, He shored me up and renewed that hope.

When it seemed that one door had slammed shut, another opened.

It is so easy to wallow in what is not right, but the reality is that there are so many other little blessings along the way that deserve my abundant thanks and gratitude.

Thank you Lord, for always being there, for hearing and answering my unspoken prayers and for sending angels to minister to me, when I need it most.

“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood…”

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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Salvation Story in Yarn

Romans 5:9 (CEV)

⁹ But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life’s blood, we will also be kept safe from God’s anger.

One drop of Christ’s blood cleanses an entire life! Glory to God!

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

Posted from WordPress for Windows Phone